The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-20
PADRE FRANCIS.
The Legend of the White Flower with
Crimson Heart.


Crimson Heart.
San Francisco Examiner.
Chorro mountain raises its bald head on the
west side of Chorro valley. It slopes up gradu-
ally on the south, west and north sides, and the
top is surmounted by cone-shaped pile of
rocks. The cone on the esst side has the ap-
pearance of having been cut in two and its per-
pendicular face starts almost out of the valley
1t is many hundred feet from the foot to the top
of the face of this wall of granite, the surface of
which is broken here and there by sharp -pon ted
crags. Perched on the top and projecting over
the precipice is huge fat-top bowder that
seems to threaten tbs traveller who passes at the
foot of the mountain.
Several years ago, while journeviue in that
section, / made the ascent of the natural nonu-
ment, having for my guide half breed Next
lean. On the top of the cliff my eye fell
small. peculiar flower that bloomed from cleft
in the rocks. 1t was tiny white fower. with
crimson center shaped like heart-the only
sign of vegetation that could be seen there.
l reached out my hand to pluck one of them
to examine it, as 1t was q curiosity to me, when
a half breed sprang toward me and exclaimed
eXcitedly in Spanish:
luck. Don't you know2-but no. you don't You
would rather put your hand on fiery coal than
touch the drop of blood from the heart OF the
holy father. No, you do not know the story"
.'Indeed 1 do not" replied. 'Tel it to me-"
And far ND there he told me in bis quaint way
the tradition Of Chorro mountain. and the little
white fowret with its heart of crimson
sit was Father Junipero Sierra. rest to his
soul, who founded the mission of San Luis
Obispo After leaving small handful of SOL
diers to protect the church and padres. the good
man went his way, and the mission prospered.
"At last came another band of missionaries
from the City of Mexico. and with them more
soldiers. These went to work with great zeal
20 make more converts among the peaceable In
dams, and soon many were set to work and
taught to till the land. They missed the liberty
that they had been used to. and ere long there
was a revolt, which resulted in great bloodshed
and almost in the destruction of the Mission San
Luis Ooispo
THE leading spirit among the disconnected
was one named at his bastism Pedro. He was
darker in color heavier built and more vicious
than any other man In the colony. His sharp
bone dagger had more than once been sheathed
in human flesh, and while the discontinued In
dams recognized him their leader, they also
feared him a reptile.
Padre Francis one of the most sincere
and Jealous of those who faced the dangers of
the deep to come from Spain. and the hardships
and perls of journey on foot through an I'M
explored region to reach his field of labor.
This of God well beloved by most
of the mission Indians because of his goodness
of heart and his kind, gentle ways Pedro saw
in him his greatest enemy, as too many loved
the good man to suit his purposes, and he re-
solved that Padre Francis. must die before a
volt could be successful.
padre Francis often took long pilermages
into the country, and many said that he was in
search of yellow gold and shining silver, which
even to this day believed to be hid in these
great mountains. One day the good Padre
went forth.
and did not come back till late in the day.
Padre Francis did not come back, and inquiry
made by the other fathers and the captain
of the soldiers among the Indians. At last they
found Pedro and learned of his absence and
late return. and they found blood on his hand
and on his breech-cloth.
How came it there!' they asked.
al killed DEER answered Pedro sullenly.
"sWhere is the skin and meatl His arrows
will be red with blood-bring Them said the
s.No fresh blood mark was on the AFRO heads,
and Pedro was put in the dungeon till the morn.
'sAt the first break of day body of soldiers
took Pedro and three friendly Indian tralers
and followed the accused mans tracks. They
led to this very mountain, and Pedro became
greatly asitated and had to be dragged along.
Up the tracks led. They find more footprints,
and sec they were made by the sandaled feet of a
priest. They too. led up. over bowd ers,
through brush, but ever mp and to the top of the
mountain.
cat last they reach the top and look around.
What is that they sect Hush! It is Padre
Francis at prayer alone on the mountain, as
near as mortal man can get to heaven. He
kneels besides the huge bowlder, his hands
c.asped before him, his head resting the cold,
hard rock. Do not disturb his holy meditations
and suppicatiens as his spirit reaches up to the
but how still he is. No movement is de-
tected by the searchers, who stand with uncov-
cred heads.
apprehensive. What deadl No. no. do not
say so: Yes, dead, and cold as the rock
against which he kneels.
What is this-bloodl And this? It is a knife,
q bone dagger red with the heart blood of the
priest On, horror! He had been murdered.
.'The Indian Pedro stands trembling like a
leaf, and as his eye falls on his bloody bone dag
GER he tears himself loose from his captors and
springs forward to secure the murderous wea-
pom. He reaches out his hand, but recois with
a cry of terror. The poisonous fanes of rattle
snake, lying quiet and blind. they all do in the
fall have pierced bis flesh. He bounds back ard
step. His fooistrikes on q rolling rock. and
with shrek he goes over the dizzy precipice